Chapter 14

Song Mingshan shivered violently.

Behind that seemingly innocent smile was something far more sinister.

Still, she had no choice but to force a response through clenched teeth: “Y-Yes… that’s pretty impressive.”

Something about this eldest boy felt very off.

“Of course! Big brother’s the best. This morning he even caught a kitten. Second brother said he’s going to skin it and dry the pelt for a scarf in the winter!”

The youngest, Zhang Zeming, chirped cheerfully, as if what he said was perfectly normal.

“W-What?”

Song Mingshan was horrified by the boy’s words.

“Auntie, are you scared?”
Second brother Zhang Ze’an asked her.

“N-No, of course not. Why would Auntie be scared?”
Song Mingshan smiled awkwardly and reached out to pat his head, only for the boy to dodge her touch.

His eyes were ice cold as they locked onto her.

“Auntie, are you going to marry our dad?”
The eldest, Zhang Zezhi, asked.

Song Mingshan nodded. “That’s right. Once I marry your father, I can take care of all of you. You won’t be motherless anymore.”

She thought her words were perfectly fine and even touching. Surely, the boys would be moved by her sincerity.

But she didn’t notice the flicker of viciousness that passed through the eldest boy’s eyes.

The faucet continued to run.

“So, Auntie… you’re going to be our new mom, right?”

“Yes, once I—”

Splash—!

Before she could finish her sentence, her head was suddenly shoved down hard into the sink. She hadn’t been prepared. Even though the boys were only twelve, their strength was terrifying.

Gurgle gurgle—

Water flooded her mouth and nose as she choked and gasped for air.

“L-Let go… gurgle gurgle…”

“Hahaha! This is so fun!”

“Big brother and second brother are amazing!”

“Auntie… didn’t Dad tell you that becoming our new mom is really, really difficult?”

The two boys pressed down even harder, as if they really intended to drown her.

Song Mingshan thrashed her arms desperately, unable to scream anymore.

Just when she thought she was going to die, the boys suddenly let go.

She gasped for air, coughing violently, barely registering what was happening—until the three children suddenly burst into loud sobs.

“Waaaah! Daddy! This bad Auntie bullied us!”

“She said we’re bad kids and tried to drown us!”

Zhang Shaoxing, who had just finished washing fruit, rushed over at the sound of their cries—only to see his three sons soaking wet.

The youngest even had a visible scratch across his face.

“Shaoxing! I-I didn’t! They’re lying!”
Song Mingshan’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t believe her ears—or that the children had actually done this.

They were the ones who tried to drown her! How had this turned into her trying to drown them?

“Daddy, she hit little brother! Look—he’s bleeding because of that evil woman!”
Zhang Ze’an wailed loudly.

Zhang Shaoxing’s face darkened.

“Comrade Xiao Song, I’m deeply disappointed in you.”

“No! I didn’t—really! They’re slandering me!”
Mingshan cried, soaked and disheveled, desperate to explain. But all he could see were his drenched children.

“So you’re saying my boys are liars? At their age?”

His tone was sharp and accusatory.

Holding his youngest son, he said coldly, “Fine. Since it’s your first time visiting and you don’t know their personalities yet, I’ll let it slide this once.”

“Xiao Zhi, Xiao An, go upstairs and change.”

With that, Zhang Shaoxing walked off, leaving Mingshan alone in the living room.

She stood there, fists clenched, teeth grinding in rage.

Those damn brats! Once she married into this family, she’d make them pay!

She had underestimated them. Who knew these kids would be so hard to deal with?

But then she thought of Song Qingdai. Surely, in her past life, Qingdai must’ve suffered too.

Those brats had probably tormented her just as badly.

That thought gave her a sudden sense of balance and satisfaction.

—

The Gao family lived quite a distance from the Songs—one at the edge of town, the other at the opposite end.

And the road was terrible. By the time Gao Han brought her home, night had already fallen.

As soon as his mother heard what the Songs had done, she flew into a rage.

“That bastard Song Yuanshan! It was bad enough how he treated Jiahui back then, and now he’s letting that poisonous woman abuse his own daughter?!”

Her voice trembled with emotion. Madam Ye Chunjiang’s eyes turned red.

She grabbed Qingdai’s hand and offered comfort. “Good child, just stay here with us. I asked someone to check your compatibility today, and they said three days from now is an auspicious date.”

“So I’m thinking of holding your wedding banquet then. What do you think?”

Compared to Ye Chunjiang’s fury, Song Qingdai remained calm.

After all, she’d lived two lifetimes. She knew exactly what kind of man her father really was.

The entire Song family was a pit of wolves and vipers.

All they knew was how to tear her apart—there would never be peace for her there.

“Okay.”

“I know everything’s happening fast,” Madam Ye said, “but I promise you, you won’t be shortchanged on anything.”

“I also know young people nowadays don’t like living with in-laws. I feel the same, to be honest. So I spoke with Gao Han’s father, and we want to set you up in the provincial capital. What do you think?”

“The provincial capital?”
Qingdai blinked.

Did they really have a house there?

“Yes, though it’s not very big. Please don’t mind it,” Ye Chunjiang added nervously, afraid she wouldn’t like it.

“Of course not.”

“The room’s all ready upstairs—go take a look.”

Gao Han came downstairs at that moment. His usually stern features softened just a little when his eyes met Qingdai’s.

“Good girl, go check it out. If you need anything, just tell Gao Han. He’ll go out and buy it for you!”

Ye Chunjiang’s warmth was a bit overwhelming for Qingdai.

Maybe it was because she had spent so much of her life being neglected and dismissed. This kind of family atmosphere was something she had never dared to hope for.

She had assumed that parents from such families would be strict and hard to please.

Upstairs, there were several vacant rooms. The walls still had old movie posters from decades ago, and the cobwebs in the corners had all been cleaned away.

Gao Han had even moved a vintage Diamond brand electric fan into the room.

Qingdai noticed her clothes had already been hung neatly in the wardrobe.

But also hanging there—were his.

“Th-This is your room?”